There are some set spaces. It doesn't look that small honestly but you can bet on at least 4 or so places to build on in the different environments. It's not totally free build as you do have to build in certain spots but I can see why they wouldn't allow us to build anywhere.
Loved the videos, easy sub! I appreciated the sentiment that surprise is a-ok; I'm hoping they tell us more about these customization options, but I'm totally fine with not seeing anything else until release. Right now I'm most psyched to see what kind of verticality these settlements have. I've come across some people that were hoping the quarry briefly shown at E3 is a settlement location, and I'm definitely all for that. Great videos, Matt!
Here's an album with what we can reasonably guess is 6-8 different locations, Paul, based more on the terrain surroundings than the settlements themselves.
Completely understandable. That's what I love about it, it's completely optional. They aren't going to force you to do it. It would certainly be interesting to just have a rigged settlement. I would enjoy that a lot. That's a very solid idea that I hope would be at least entertained by Bethesda.
I would probably make a small shack, preferably in a well-defensible position. I'll try to have it as close to the center of the map as possible. That is, if I don't get random attacks on it. If I'll get those, I'll build a few of such outposts and use them for temporary safehouses :)
Alright I've got to say this purely for the sake of discussion. Why is there so much excitement surrounding this aspect of F4? None of the stuff which is available is in any way aesthetically pleasing, there is no depth to the concept or questline to embark on and there seems to be almost no point in doing any of it. I mean, Hearthfire was shite but at least it was easy on the eye.
It is Hearthfire with the ability to create entire settlements with trade routes, defenses, NPCs etc. It also appears to be highly customizable, unlike Hearthfire where you only choose from existing templates. This appeals to some people. Personally, I'd make a shack and be done with it
I can't speak for everyone, only for myself. I just enjoy making things my own. Even back in Morrowind I would get my house from the end of any of the Great House quest lines and fix it up with my personal taste. I did it with all of the Elder Scrolls games and Fallout 3 when it released. Now they give us the chance to fully customize this aspect of the game and fully go all out, but only if we want to. That's the true beauty of it. It's optional. If it's not pleasing to a portion of the fan base, it's entirely possible to never touch it. I also enjoy games such as Minecraft, Unturned, Reign of Kinds, and any other 'builder' game so it's exciting to see such elements make it into a Bethesda game.
Being aesthetically pleasing is in the eye of the beholder, I guess. It feels very gritty and has this scavenged feel to it, which I think is the Fallout universe in a nutshell. Of course it's not going to be a marble mansion with a little library nook to take naps in during the day that you just want to look at because it's pretty. No, it's a place to survive. It's a place you turn to when radiation storms and raiders are closing in. It's your safe haven in a world where everything will eat you up and spit you out if you look at the wrong way.
Good discussion. That is just my insight on to why I find excitement in this optional feature. There is quests leading to it if you do them. The whole point is that you can get traders with very high quality items and have a convenient place to store everything from your travels, whether it be on display on the wall or in a locked safe that is upstairs next to your gun collection. Cheers.